Grading day is always met with a mix of nerves and excitement for members of South Coast Shotokan Karate. Demonstrating karate technique in front of a panel of black belt examiners and parents is a bit nerve-racking for all, and sometimes for the instructors on the panel too.
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But the students were determined to impress and impress they did. Both juniors and seniors reined in their fears and demonstrated excellent spirit and good technique throughout their assessments. And for the first time in over a year, everyone who graded passed!
Assistant instructor Amanda Baker said “It’s a very rare event when everyone is successful in their grading. It was fantastic to see. Normally, low attendance, due to illness or other reason, means that at least some of the kids simply don’t have the minimum required hours of practice needed to succeed at assessment. But this time, despite any complications they may have experienced over the term, they all smashed it!”
The results were: Mark and Vimal Patel and Mel Carlsson - Red White Stripe, Lulu Zwar and Jay Hammond - 9th Kyu, Mahlia and Adie Hadfield and Edward Rajesh – 8th Kyu, Riley Peters, Levi France and Benjamin Le – 7th Kyu, Sara Massey – 6th Kyu and Evie Rowe – Blue White Stripe.
Passing this grading means that the new term ahead will witness new kihon (basics) and katas (forms) to learn and, more complex kumite (sparring) techniques to master. Students are excited to progress to new levels, and some of them are on their way to achieving the coveted black belt in the near future.
“One of our club mottos is A black belt is just a white belt that never gave up”.
Another club motto is dream, train achieve which is embodied by the instructors’ achievements in their own grading examinations and karate tournaments in previous years.
“If the students of South Coast Shotokan Karate continue to demonstrate the spirit they showed on this grading night, they are all certainly capable of achieving their own goals”, Amanda said.
South Coast Shotokan Karate have classes for children, teens and adults at all levels Monday, Wednesday and Friday in Nowra and North Nowra. We welcome new members. If you would like to find out more, contact Sensei David on 0418 977 402 or visit www.shotokankarate.com.au for more details.